Time to leave this apartment I've been at for about 7 years.....I am sick of being surrounded by gunfire and random drug deals. The new place is amazing. Completely surrounded by trees, no neighbors, and plenty of squirrels and rabbits running around in the yard. Can't wait to get completely settled in!

"What is most crucial is the prayer that we express every day in the Our Father, when we say, deliver us from evil. The evil we ask to be delivered from is not essentially the evil of sin, though that is clear, but in the mind of Jesus, it is more importantly a loss of faith. For Jesus, the inability to believe in God and to live by faith is the greatest of evils.

You see the things that result from this are an affront to human dignity, destruction of trust between peoples, the rule of egoism and the loss of peace. One can never have true justice, true peace, if God becomes meaningless to people." - Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

So now not believing in invisible all powerful world creators who demand woship is the root cause of and greatest of all evils.

So it turns out the archbishop Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, who has no problem stating that atheists are less than human was given an honorary doctorate in Christian letters by our local Catholic University. Nice. Try replacing "atheist" with "black" or "Jewish" and see how that works out for you Cardinal. He's a bigot plain and simple.

The University said that “Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor has worked with patient resolve and charity to heal longstanding divisions in the Church in Britain and around the world,” said Father Terence Henry, TOR, president of Franciscan University. “He has also consistently reminded Christians not only in Britain, but throughout Europe, of the pivotal importance of faith as the basis of all culture and urged them to bring their faith into public debates as the only true means of achieving the common good. Franciscan University is proud to honor Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor for his exemplary service to the Church and society.”It took me a total of ten seconds and the use of google to find that in addition to being a bigot, he once decided that moving a pedophile priest to a different Parrish and continue giving him access to children was a fine idea. Doctors and therapists told O'Connor that the priest would molest again, but O'Connor decided that the power of Jesus would triumph and the molesting priest would be just FINE around more kid. Sick.

If the Church had truly cared about the pedophile problem that it so clearly has, there would not be a priest working today that had a history of covering up the rape of children. But something tells me, that would leave a rather large number of positions to be filled around the globe.

So instead, we award them degrees and move them up the ladder of success.

CARTERSVILLE, GA.–The ultra-conservative clergy gathered in the weekend huddle on Biblical prophecy warn that the Antichrist soon will show himself. They cannot yet say who he is. But they are willing to declare who he is not.

"Some people say it's President Obama – that's just wild-eyed speculation," says Ed Hindson, author of more than 20 books on the meaning of apocalyptic scripture. "It's not Nero, it's not Charlemagne, not Napoleon, not Hitler, Stalin or Kennedy," Hindson tells people attending the Global Warning conference here. "It's not Khrushchev.

These men see Obama more as a kind of valet to the Antichrist. The Obama administration's policies of friendly international outreach, they say, are hastening the decline of American power, thereby setting the stage for a resurgence of Europe.

And that is where the Antichrist will emerge, Hindson predicts, thus elevating modern-day Europe to a de facto "Third Roman Empire," as foretold in the book of Daniel.

"The political unification of Europe oughta be like a flashing red light to get our attention," he says. "All of a sudden the Euro is stronger than the dollar ... The Antichrist will rise from Europe as Europe revives in the end days."

May 18, 2009

Maybe we won't agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.

So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women.Understand - I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it - indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory - the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature. - Barack Obama - 05/16/2009

It's getting sadly all too common for a weekend here in Steubenville to be punctuated with gunfire of some kind. Would it be too much to ask to see SOMEBODY arrested this time? It seems most of these instances are followed up by.......nothing.

STEUBENVILLE, Oh. -- With bullet holes in the refrigerator, the TV and even in the shower, a Steubenville family is scared to think of what could have happened to them early Saturday morning. A number of shots were fired into their home, through their back door.

The home is located on the 400 block of Maxwell Avenue.

“I just laid down, bottle in my daughters mouth. Next thing I know I hear loud gunshots," said one resident.

At first, the Steubenville woman who did not want to be identified had no idea the gunshots she heard early Saturday morning were the gunshots she'd soon see. The gunfire slammed into her home, all while she, her sister and their three toddlers were sleeping.

"These cover sheets were the brainchild of Major General Glen Shaffer, a director for intelligence serving both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the secretary of defense. In the days before the Iraq war, Shaffer’s staff had created humorous covers in an attempt to alleviate the stress of preparing for battle. Then, as the body counting began, Shaffer, a Christian, deemed the biblical passages more suitable."Full story here . . . .

May 15, 2009

The great blog God Is For Suckers has a fantastic piece up about our favorite whipping boy Pay Robertson. Apparantly Pat made some rather ironic (to say the least) comments about Greed.Check out the post here...

May 11, 2009

So the miracle of communion can turn wine into blood and crackers into flesh....but it can't wipe out that pesky Swine Flu! What a shock.

May 02, 2009Can the Communion chalice transmit Swine flu?

Bess writes Swine flu worry is afflicting religious worship this weekend reports Pew Forum. Pastors are now grappling with liturgical health issues such as whether Communion chalices, used to offer wine to the congregation in general, may risk transmitting the virus. In Mexico, many Catholic Churches have closed and in Mexico City the faithful were advised recently to listen to Mass on the radio or watch it on television rather than risk catching the flu by attending church. Now several bishops and faith leaders in the US are expressing similar concerns. The US Catholic Bishops are urging priests and ministers changed with distributing communion this Sunday to wash their hands with anti-bacterial solution beforehand. Pew Forum reports too on the “additional precautions” Catholic bishops in affected areas are advising. For example, the bishop of Austin, Texas home to 26 Swine flu cases to date has urged his priests not to offer Communion wine at Mass until “more is known” about the virus. Bishop Gregory Aymond believes that “having the public drink from the chalice is an unnecessary risk” and in addition wants holy water kept in stoups at the entry to diocesan churches to be emptied, and the stoups washed and disinfected before being re-filled.

During a seminar on domestic violence, a Saudi judge was quoted as saying that it's just fine for Saudi men to slap their wives around if the wife has spent too much money. Click Here.

And here in the good old USA, the mother of a 13 year old has refused to allow her son to get chemotherapy for his cancer. Doctors say that without the chemotherapy he will die. The mother says that Jesus will make him better. I know which one my money would be on. Click Here.

Interesting collection of news videos about a Catholic Priest given the boot for canoodling in public with a woman. Does my heart good to see she is of age. Click here.

Tonight is the Pittsburgh Penguins' GAME FOUR of the Stanley Cup best of seven series. The jackass Washington Crapitals are up 2-1. Thanks for Sherry at After The Bridge for this great motivational pic......

If you swing by here on occasion......go ahead and click the FOLLOW button on the right hand side under that big beautiful "A". It always entertains me to see that number crawl higher. And it has been a crawl. Thanks!

When asked about the five states that have now decided to let people have equal rights under the law by legalizing same sex marriage, the religious hate spewing bigot Pat Robertson never fails to make a giant fuckhead out of himself....

"You got polygamy out there. How can we rule that polygamy is illegal when you say that homosexual marriage is legal. What is it about polygamy that's different? Well, polygamy was outlawed because it was considered immoral according to biblical standards. But if we take biblical standards away in homosexuality, what about the other?

"And what about bestiality and ultimately what about child molestation and pedophilia? How can we criminalize these things and at the same time have constitutional amendments allowing same-sex marriage among homosexuals. You mark my words, this is just the beginning in a long downward slide in relation to all the things that we consider to be abhorrent."

Asshole.

Point 1 - Polygamy has as much to do with legalizing same sex marriage as it does with heterosexual marriage. That is, nothing at all. Marriage is a legal government sanctioned institution between two people. A large component of this is health insurance through employers. There is no movement to legalize polygamy, and there most likely never will be. Corporate America is certainly not going to be interested in the ramifications of legalizing polygamy.

Point 2 - What Bible is Pat reading? The Bible I've read has NO PROBLEM at all with polygamy. It's actually the most common form of marriage in the bible and is consistently condoned by God.Point 3 - Bringing up bestiality and child molestation is an argument about same sex marriage just shows how INSANELY stupid you are. Pat is a jackass.

Point 4 - Was giving women the right to vote "the beginning of a long downward slide"? How about civil rights and ending segregation? What downward slide did that start? And yes, the Bible was used to justify keeping those discriminatory practices in play as well.

Pat Robertson is a hateful, evil, egotistical maniac. And the saddest part is that he is a millionaire with legions of followers all too willing to open their pocketbooks to support his mission of lies and hatred.

May 06, 2009

AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday signed a gay marriage bill passed just hours before by the Maine Legislature.

Baldacci made his announcement within an hour of the Maine Senate giving its final approval to LD 1020. The Senate voted 21-13 in favor of the measure after a short debate.

"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," Baldacci said in a written statement. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."

The House of Representatives gave its approval on a 89-57 vote Tuesday.

The governor's signature makes Maine the fifth state to allow gay marriage.

President Obama is distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the next morning.

All Mr. Obama will do for the National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, is sign a proclamation honoring the day, which originated in 1952 when Congress set aside the first Thursday in May for the observance.

For the past eight years, President George W. Bush invited selected Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House East Room, where he typically would give a short speech and several leaders offered prayers.

Pressed by reporters as to the lack of a formal ceremony, Obama White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the proclamation was Mr. Obama's choice.

"That's the way the president will publicly observe National Prayer Day - privately, he'll pray as he does every day," Mr. Gibbs said.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Committee, said the group was "disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration."

"At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer," said Mrs. Dobson, who occupied a prominent seat in the front row for the ceremonies during the Bush administration.

The only thing that would make this story better would be for Obama to just chuck the entire idea of a "National Day of Prayer" out the window. It's pointless, useless, and is an uncomfortable and unnecessary mix of religion and government.

Shirley Dobson is a dolt. She makes the typical "pay attention to me" religious complaint about needing some kind of public recognition of her need to talk to herself. I'm sure she's the type that would scream bloody murder when a public school does away with morning prayer or 'moments of silence'.

If you want to talk to yourself.....I mean pray.....trust me....NOBODY is stopping you.

Do it in the morning over your Cheerios. Do it on the ride to work. Do it in your cubicle. Do it on the toilet for all I care. It's silent and supposedly personal......keep it to yourself. Not that difficult.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him"(Matthew 6:5-8).

It's always amazes me how Christians seem to conveniently forget the words of Christ (who never really existed anyway IMO), and pretty much everything else that's in the Bible. Except for hatin' the gays. That part they know like the back of their hand. Amazing.

May 05, 2009

"People don't understand the dictionary—it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do—what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children." - Joe the proud republican Plumber in an interview with the magazine Christianity Today.

May 04, 2009

A Colorado Springs church with a history of controversy over its attempts to bring children into its fold by saving and baptizing them has been evangelizing recently outside at least one middle school and two elementary schools.

Cornerstone Baptist Church fell into the spotlight again after an incident Thursday near Russell Middle School.

According to Colorado Springs School District 11 officials, a church group tried to lure a seventh-grader into a church van after school, and the girl went home and told her parents. The incident was reported to the Colorado Springs Police Department, but spokesman Lt. David Whitlock said he hadn't been able to track down a report to confirm details.

D-11 spokeswoman Elaine Naleski said proselytizing near Russell has been an issue for more than a week. After Thursday's incident was reported, children from two nearby elementary schools - Keller and Fremont - also reported that people from a church approached them in recent weeks as they walked to and from school. Still, she said, the district was surprised by the apparent attempt to get a child to go in a van with strangers.

More than half of people who attend services at least once a week – 54 percent – said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42 percent of people who “seldom or never” go to services agreed, according to the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified – more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did.

From a Pew Research Center survey conducted last week.

Hopefully when jesus comes back to reclaim his faithful and take them into the sky, he doesn't have important information he refuses to speak about. Or else it's Mel Gibson time all over again....